A general power of attorney in the form in Schedule 1 to the Powers of Attorney Act 1971, for England and Wales. It appoints one or more attorneys, jointly or jointly and severally, to do anything the donor can lawfully do by an attorney, and is signed as a deed in the presence of a witness.
The whole document, exactly as it prints. Type your answers and they appear in the document as you go. When it reads right, print it or save it as a PDF. Then sign it the way the signing rules below describe.
General Power of Attorney (England and Wales)
General Power of Attorney
A general power of attorney in the form in Schedule 1 to the Powers of Attorney Act 1971, made under section 10 of that Act, for England and Wales. Template v1.0.
This general power of attorney is made on: Date made
By the donor: Donor's full name
Of (address):
Donor's address
Country of residence: England
I appoint the person or persons named below to be my attorney or attorneys in accordance with section 10 of the Powers of Attorney Act 1971.
Attorney or attorneys, with the full name and address of each:
Attorney or attorneys
If I appoint more than one attorney, they are to act: jointly and severally
Under section 10 of the Act, this power gives my attorney or attorneys authority to do on my behalf anything that I can lawfully do by an attorney.
Signed as a deed
Signed as a deed by the donor and delivered on the date given above, in the presence of the witness below.
DonorSignatureNameDate
WitnessSignatureNameDateAddress and occupation
THE DOCUMENT
What it covers
The template has 1 parts.
Signed as a deed
BEFORE YOU START
What you will be asked
Have these details ready. The template needs them before anyone signs.
On what date will you sign it?
What is your full name?
What is your home address?
Who will be your attorney? Give each person's full name and address.
If you appoint more than one attorney, must they always act together, which is jointly, or may they also act alone, which is jointly and severally?
THE PEOPLE
Who signs
Everyone the template names, and what each one does.
DonorSigns
WitnessWitness
SIGNING RULES
How it is signed in the United Kingdom
The rules for a document signed as a deed depend on where it is signed. Laws change, so check the sources before anyone signs.
United Kingdom
Print and sign in ink
Each part of the UK sets its own rules. This page covers England and Wales. Check the rules anywhere else before anyone signs.
Rules by part of the UK
Signing rules by part of the UK in the United Kingdom
Part of the UK
How it is signed
E-signature
Witnesses
Notary
Registration
Stamp duty
England
Print and sign in ink
Only in some cases
One
Not needed
Not needed
Not needed
A deed may be signed electronically when the witness is physically present and signs too, but many banks and registries still ask for ink.
Can the general power of attorney be signed electronically in England?
Only in some cases in England. A deed may be signed electronically when the witness is physically present and signs too, but many banks and registries still ask for ink.
How many witnesses does the general power of attorney need in England?
One witness.
Does the general power of attorney need a notary in England?
No. No notary is needed.
Does the general power of attorney need to be registered in England?
No. It is not registered.
Is stamp duty due on the general power of attorney in England?
No stamp duty is due.
Can the general power of attorney be signed electronically in Wales?
Only in some cases in Wales. The same rule as England: a witness who is physically present.
How many witnesses does the general power of attorney need in Wales?
One witness.
Does the general power of attorney need a notary in Wales?
No. No notary is needed.
Does the general power of attorney need to be registered in Wales?
No. It is not registered.
Is stamp duty due on the general power of attorney in Wales?
No stamp duty is due.
THE RIGHT TEMPLATE
Where it fits
For a donor in England or Wales who wants someone to act for them while they still have mental capacity, for example during a stay abroad or for a sale. It ends if the donor loses mental capacity, so for that a lasting power of attorney made on the Office of the Public Guardian forms is needed. Not for Scotland or Northern Ireland.
A CAREFUL CHECK
Before you rely on it
Original Centilio wording, not legal advice. The general power of attorney in the form in Schedule 1 to the Powers of Attorney Act 1971. Under section 10 it lets the attorney do on the donor's behalf anything the donor can lawfully do by an attorney, except functions the donor has as a trustee or personal representative, which section 10(2) excludes subject to the Trustee Delegation Act 1999. Section 1 of the Act and section 1 of the Law of Property (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1989 require it to be executed as a deed, signed by the donor in the presence of a witness who attests the signature, and the witness should be an independent adult, not an attorney. It ends if the donor loses mental capacity, so it does not replace a lasting power of attorney under the Mental Capacity Act 2005, made on the Office of the Public Guardian forms and registered before use. For a power limited to particular matters, or for trustees, a solicitor should draft a specific power. Banks and HM Land Registry may ask for the original or a copy certified under section 3.
The official lasting power of attorney from the Office of the Public Guardian, on form LP1F for financial decisions or LP1H for health and care decisions.
A statutory declaration for England and Wales, in which the declarant solemnly declares facts in the words the Statutory Declarations Act 1835 sets out.
